Improvement in oil-feeding apparatus for gas-retorts



J'. BARBOUR.

OIL-FEEDING APPARATU'S FOR GAS-RET ORTS. No. 178,584, Patented June13, 1876.

Witnesses Invenfor:

JQ Kd XMQQQX? JAMES BARBOUR, OF PROVIDENCE, R. I., ASSIGNOR TO THE PROVIDENCE STEAM AND GAS PIPE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT lN OIL-FEEDING APPARATUS FOR GAS-RETORTS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 178,584, dated June 13,1876; application filed March 18, 1876.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES BARBOUR, of

the city and county of Providence, in the State bon fluids in heated retorts. The petroleum is necessarily fed in through trapped pipes or passagessometimes termed siphons.

In the working of the apparatus the pressure in the retorts is liable to accumulate beyond the pressure which the small head of fluid in the siphon can resist. In such case the gas blows out through the trap. As ordinarily conducted much mischief results from such blowing through, in consequence of the highly-inflammable oil being thrown out and ignited.

The accompanying drawings form a part of this specification, and represent what I consider the best means of carrying out the invention.

Figure 1 is a vertical section, and Fig. 2 a

I plan view, of the upper portion.

Similar letters of reference indicate like parts in both the figures.

A is a retort, which may stand alone, or be one of a bench, and, in any case, suitably supported and presented to a heating fire, as will be understood. The oil is received into the retort either at intervals, or in a small continuous stream, according as it is supplied into the funnel E. A small pipe, a, of sufficient capacity to conduct downward all the petroleum required, extends upward from the retort, and is open at both ends. A larger pipe, B, closed at the top, extends downward from the bottom of the funnel E, and loosely incloses the pipe anearly to the bottom. A considerably larger pipe, .C, incloses the whole, and, being tightly closed at the bottom, ex-. cept for the drain-cock d, which is capable of emptying it, when required, extends. upward to the funnel E, receiving the petroleum therefrom through the orifices e. The annular space between the exterior pipe B and the interior of the inclosing-pipe C is much greater than the cross-sectional area of the pipe a.

Under ordinary circumstances the petroleum supplied to the funnel E trickles down, and stands in the pipe C at a level which is nearly uniform. So soon as more fluid is received the fluid rises within the pipe 13, and flows over into the pipe at, and thus obtains access to the interior of the retort. Usually the pressure in the retort A is a little above that of the external atmosphere, and, consequently, the level of the petroleum in the annular space be tween the pipes B and C (which I for brevity call in the pipe C is a few inches above the top of the pipe a, and, consequently, a

nearly corresponding amount above the level in the interior of the pipe B. The fluid moves slowly down in the pipe C; then up in the pipe B then finally down through the smallest and central pipe a into the retort.

When the pressure in the retort suddenly increases, and the gas in the retort blows out through the pipe (0, blowing out the small quantity of petroleum which trickled down therein toward the level in the pipe B, causing the oil therein to move outward through the bottom of the latter, and, adding to the quantity in the pipe C, causes the level in the latter to rise; but, inasmuch as the area of the pipe C, and of the space therein exterior to the pipe B, is large, the rise of level in the pipe C from this cause is slight. As soon as the gas emerges from the pipe B it bubbles up through the denser fluid in the annular space between B and C, and, emerging 'at the surface in bubbles, it is disengaged therefrom, and escapes freely through the apertures e, and blows away. There cannot, even under most extraordinary conditions of pressure, be any more gas thus bubble up than can traverse upward through the small pipe at, and again downward through the contracted annular passage between a and the interior of 13..

These passages have much less area than the liberal space in the interior of C. The gas cannot, therefore, force upward and blow out the fluid contained in C, but can only bubble idly upward therein. The conditions under which gas thus blows out through atrap are usually of brief continuance, but in the rare case that A no such should continue for a considerable period, and the petroleum continue to be-delivcred into the funnel E until the fluid-level in C rises to and above the orifices 6, there is still ample space for the gas to continue to rise in small bubbles, succeeding each other in greator or less rapidity, according to the pressure with which the gas is forced through the contracted passages below. The cock d may discharge the surplus of fluid, or the whole of the fluid within the pipe 0, whenever desired.

The details may be modified'within Wide limits. Thus, I can employ a still larger pipe, 0,

and dispense with the enlargement or funnel E at the top.

1 am aware that some of the elements of my construction are well known. An outer tube,

open at the top, an inner one leading to a retort, and an intermediate one, open at the bottom, all arranged so that the gas conducted from the retort will pass through a liquid, and bubble up to escape, are old, and such broadly, I do not claim but What I do claim is In combination with a petroleum-retort, a

feed pipe or passage formed with a trap hav- JAMES BARBOUR. Witnesses:

F. H. MAYNARD, R. W. GRINNELL. 

